Warthogs breed in the summer rainy seasons in the southern parts of Africa. They could have between 1 to 8 pigets( average being 2-3 piglets) weighing 450-900g each. They are born after a gestation period of 160-170 days. Each piglet is alocated to its own teat and is not allowed to suckle from another.

Noticed on my last visit, no little warthog.
In terms of maximising on droppings, hares might be the most efficient. They use their droppings as vitamin pills. The most cost effective way of recycling nutrition.

The bird doesn't sing because it has answers, it sings because it has a song.

DID YOU KNOW??That warthogs were named because of there wart-like markings on there face, there are two of these 'warts' just under there eyes. The 'warts' are used to mark territory, by wiping them on vegitation and other objects in there home range.

macho mouse wrote:We stopped for a very long time and watched a lone male. That is not my usual experience. He was not alerted to the needs of his young, so he was just not interested in any potential threat.I have also never seen the park so dry.

Ar'n't warthog also a favourite food of leopard? I wonder if they are feeling the decline in their food choice?

It would be good to hear from people experienced in patterns in the park.
One of our rangers told us that the predators do well during early drought, as the prey were often weakened by lack of food and water.
This was my worst experience of the park, but maybe I have been lucky in the past.

The bird doesn't sing because it has answers, it sings because it has a song.

That is a useful picture Jazil. That is a female warthog as males have two pairs of 'warts' on the sides of the head compared to a female's one pair, which is relatively small (as in picture).

The picture is useful because you can see the dark discolouration or 'tears' running down from the eye.

Warthogs have two major types of facial glands, the tusk gland located in the upper lid behind the tusks and the preorbital gland. Which is found near the inside of the eyes (as in the picture).

The tusk gland secretion is found to be involved in warthog courtship and territory marking with the preorbital gland. Another function of the tusk gland includes communicating status.This is particularly key to warthogs since males are solitary and live with one or more females in which their home ranges overlap.

The height of scent and tusk scrape marks could provide clues to the largest most dominant males in the area.

Rubbing together of preorbital glands is a means of communication between individuals and important in the courtship display between prospective mates.

The location of this gland is not near the enlarged warts and the warts are dermal and do not contain glands. Its believed that because males have larger and more numerous growths, that they evolved to protect the eyes and jaw from sparring contests with other males during dominance battles and practice. Contests of strength are usually tusk-to-tusk and forehead-to-forehead pushing matches. Low sideways blows are wicked and violent fights are bloody, though it usually doesn't come down to that. The mouth is usually kept closed during ritualized hierarchy sparring, with the upper and lower tusks clamped together. Warts offer protection from this potential damage.

Warthogs have no sweat glands and like elephants are usually left or right 'handed/tusked' and use one more than the other wearing it down.

SAHGCA-UCT wrote:That is a useful picture Jazil. That is a female warthog as males have two pairs of 'warts' on the sides of the head compared to a female's one pair, which is relatively small (as in picture).

Interesting information about the difference in the number of "warts" between the different sexes.Below then photos of males. The lone one must be an old one when you look at the size of the "warts" compared to those of the 2 on the other photo. Any body knows if the size of the "warts" are indicative of age?